AN historic manor house in a Worcestershire village nearly went up in smoke after a fire broke out early this morning.
Two fire crews from Evesham were called to Wyke Manor House, in Wick, near Pershore, at 4.40am after reports of a ground-floor blaze.
The mediaeval timber house - part of which dates back to the Domesday Book - is owned by businessman Charles Hudson who makes "real" confetti from delphiniums grown at the next-door farm.
The fire is believed to have started in the music room at the rear of house.
Fire crews controlled the flames but the ground floor was "smoke-logged".
No one was injured in the incident and there is no estimate of the damage.
A spokesman said: "The quick action of the firefighters saved the building from even more damage."
Mr Hudson led Sir Michael Spicer's election bid in the 1980s as his South Worcestershire Conservative campaigner.
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